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An Allied FanBoy here. I have been playing the Allied since the initial release of the game, with many PBEM games under my belt as Allied. Never played Japan. I think it is time to tip my toe in – or rather jump in.

The thing which has always scared me from playing Japan is the whole aircraft production aspect. I have done a fair amount of searching and reading the forms on this topic but have not found anything definitive.

Can I please get some specific advice? I realize it is all personal game-play, but I would appreciate some specifics to get started. It is easier to do some modifications once I have a specific plan to follow, play for a bit and make changes from the.

Here is the start of my basic questions which I hope can be answered. If I forgot anything, please jump in:

Engines
1. As an overarching goal what engines should be built in what quantity?
2. What specifically are you driving at.
3. Specifically, which engine factories should be changed over, to what and when?
4. Specifically, which engine factories should be expanded and when.

Aircraft
I realize this can be highly personalized, but again, something specific to get started would be greatly appreciated.
1. As an overarching goal what engines should be built in what quantity?
2. What specifically are you driving at? For a mid-war point of reference, what you’re your go-to fighters, bomber, DB and TB?
3. Which airframe factoids should be R&D’ed and when.
4. Specifically, which factories should be changed over, to what and when?
5. Specifically, which airframe factories should be expanded and when.

Again, I realize this is depended heavily on your personal game play, but just would like some general specific help to get started. I do not want to spend countless hours in trial and error making silly mistakes. I understand the game micritize well and am interested in jumping in to the PBEM as Japan. I do not enjoy a PBEM slaughter on either sides. I have played several PBEMN into 1944 and my current one is 4/44 and going strong.

If you would prefer to e-mail this information to me and not divulge this information on the forum that would work. But, if you are willing to get some posted started here I am sure the community would find it interesting and helpful.

There is always a need for Japan PBEM players, and I think this is what scares them away the most.

First question everyone is going to ask: Are you playing PDU on or off? Makes all the difference

Thank you. Excellent point.

I have played as allied in PBEM and that seems to be a pretty big advantage with PDU set is on.

Which would be best for a PBEM Game for Japan? PDU on or off?

To answer your question I would say which ever would be most advantage to the Japan player.

ORIGINAL: KPAX

Thank you. Excellent point.

I have played as allied in PBEM and that seems to be a pretty big advantage with PDU set is on.

Which would be best for a PBEM Game for Japan? PDU on or off?

To answer your question I would say which ever would be most advantage to the Japan player.

Most definitely PDU ON. That greatly simplifies what you need to do, and allows you to skip whole lines.

There are alot of opinions on what is good and what isn't good for Japan, so take mine with a grain of salt, but: (and I know I am missing something)

AIRFRAME R&D
--Focus heavily on fighter types, as those are the game-changers
--Alot of your research, you will want start building an early version, but also save factories to keep researching later version once you get fully repaired
--Invest Research Factories in:
a. Ki-Frank, 4 to 8 Factories; use some for Frank-r
b. N1K1, 4 to 8 Factories; use some for later N1K2 and N1K5
c. A6M line; start with Rufe until repaired, but switch to A6M5c, or A6M8, depending on how aggressive you want to be. Maybe 4-6 factories. IMPORTANT: A6M2 is a completely different plane for R&D, and a dead-end. So do NOT research A6M2 or expand beyond what you need initially; probably 100 or so? A6M2 only upgrades to Sen Baku, which is crap
d. D4Y: 2-4 Factories, and switch a couple to D4Y4. Replacing VAL is a priority, it sucks.
e. B6N1: 2 Factories? Not as high priority as Judy, since B5N is OK
f. B7N Grace: 2-3 Factories
g. Ki-67 Peggy (T): 2-3 factories
h. JWI Shinden: 2-3 Factories
Those are the critical ones, you may find yourself using an R&D Factory to start other models you'll need, but these are the ones you really want to invest in. You might think about RANDY.

BUILD, BUT DON'T GO CRAZY ON R&D:
--Tojo: You'll want good production on this, as it's your best fighter before you get the George and Frank. Skip the -b version with the 40mm canon though.
--Oscar: Build all the lines, don't R&D though. You'll need a bunch of production early, since it's the only decent IJA fighter you have. Later version with Armor make good escorts.
--Emily
--All New Transports
--Any NF
--Nicks; you will need these, especially since many bomber units can convert to NICK if you use PPs; later in the game you'll probably want to do that. The Nick-a is pretty much as good as Nick-C, and skip the -b and it's crap 40 mm cannon which can't hit anything
--Recon planes

DON'T BUILD:
--Ki-61 TONY: You may consider researching just to get to Ki-100 early, but do not build the TONY. It uses a unique engine, and is no better than the Tojo
--J2M JACK: Inferior to the George. The only think worthwhile about it is that is uses the Ha-32 engine which you should have plenty of, but otherwise it's a waste
--NATE, IDA, PETE: Skip these

Also, you will need TONS of JAKES; they are amazingly useful, yet die in droves. Building 100 a month is not crazy.

ENGINES:
--Ha-31: Don't expand much; check the models it uses, but very limited
--Ha-32: You will need to expand some; alot depends on what late-war models you use like D4Y4 that use Ha-32
--Ha-35: This is your Go-TO engine early; you'll need enough to cover all fighter production, so at least 200. It's useful the whole game, but used less later in war
--Ha-44: This is specific to only the HELEN and TOJO, so you'll need it in 1942, then you won't use it much really. Careful overbuilding it
--Ha-45: Get started on this engine right away; you'll need production of 300 to 600/mo eventually, for all your FRANKS, GEORGE, etc.
--Aichi 60: Dead-end engine for D4Y1; you have to build it, but don't expand it from initial production (60, I think?)

I missed some from memory here, I'm sure others can fill in blanks

Also, no matter what, ALWAYS SAVE BEFORE MAKING FACTORY CHANGES. That way if you accidentally trash a completed R&D line, you can just go back.

ORIGINAL: KPAX

The thing which has always scared me from playing Japan is the whole aircraft production aspect.

Fully understand, I'm a JFB at heart but I do not relish the engine management chores at all. You may want to check out the mod link in my sig, I offer a scenario where all Japanese airframes use the same generic "engine", just like the Allied planes do. To keep Japan honest, I have upped the supply costs for the engine factory repairs and severely restricted the number of airframe R&D facilities.

Thank you large I will have to take a peek at this.